Faucet



1,614,079 Jan l1 192.7' H; H. MEYER er AL FAUCET Filed Jan. 1s. 192s s sheets-sheet 1 58 57 Jan. 11 1927.

H. H. MEYER 1' AL FAUCET Filed Jan. 15; 1923 s sheets-sheet 2 /NvE/vmes HERMA/v /z NEVER formen C. ,eff/mear sym-ani Jan'. 11 '1927.

H. H. MEYER ETAL FAUCET Filed Jan. 13

3 Sheeissheet 5 Patented Jan. 1'1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oi-i-icE-.l

HERMAN H. MEYER AND EDWARD c. REEHoEsT, E CLEVELAND, oHIo; SAID EEEHoRsT AssiGNon rro sAID MEYER.

FAUCET.

Application nica January is, 192s. serial No. 612,491. I

Our invention pertains to a faucet and more particularly to several features of construction.

One object of our invention has been to design a durable faucet efficient in operation. A further object has been to provide a take-up for wear permitting a turning force to be progressively regulated and continually applied. Another object is the provision of a faucet construction wherein a faucet casing comprising a spout is separate from the valve mechanism, which, according to our invention, is detachably connected therewith so as to be quickly withdrawable in its entirety therefrom preparatory to replacement or repair. Still another objectis the provision of an automatic pressure closing Ifaucet casing valve adapted to close whenever the valve mechanism is detached as a unit. Other objects are to protect the take-up mechanism of the main valve mechanism against fluid immersion and therefore against corrosive action; the coil lspring which the drawings exemplify and the tension of which may be adjusted with a step by step action being sealed against the Water flow by suitable packing. Another object has been to avoid having the valve seat cut into the faucet casing. thereby avoiding the necessity of a new faucet body whenever the seat is excessively worn or otherwise damaged. Our faucet body may be used for an indefinite period irrespective of the number of minor replacements in the valve mechanism.

Adverting to the drawings:

Figure I is a vertical axial section of a faucet embodying our invention.

Figure II is a top plan view of the handle.

Figure III is a section on line III-III of Figure I.

Figure IV is a section on line IV-IV of Figure I.

r Figure V is a section on line V-V of Figure I.

Figure VI is a section on line VI-VI of Figure I.

Figure VII is a view similar to Figure I, but showing the valve casing removed and an auxiliary or emergency valve in its closed position,

lFigure VIII is a section on line VIII- VIII of Figure VII.

Figure IX is a side elevation of one. part of an adjusting device.

Figure X is a bottom plan view of Figure IX.

-Figure XI is a fragmentary portion of Figure I showing the primary valve in its open position.

Figure XII is a view corresponding to Figure I' showing a modified form in which the opening and closing actions of the valve are reversed, the valve being shown in its closed position.

Figure XIII is a fragmentary view of Figure XII showing the main valve in its open position.

A faucet casing 1 comprises a spout 2 and at its top is fashioned with an interiorly threaded flange 3 for the reception of the primary valve mechanism. The faucet casv ing includes a downward hollow extension 4 to be passed through a fixture 5 in the ordinary manner and adapted to be coiinected at its lower end in any suitable manner with a water pipe 6. Further description of such connection is deemed unnecessary because nothing is claimed in regard to it. The downward extension 4 is provided with a central duct 7 with which four circumferentially arranged passages 8 communicate as may be seen in Figure VIII.

Above the upper or discharge ends of the passages 8 the walls of the casing are fashioned with radial guides 9 shown in Figures I and VII between and along which a hollow valve 10 is adapted to reciprocate. The valve 10 is provided with a bore 11 extending down from its top and the upper outer corner of the valve 10 is fashioned as a spherical surface 12 adapted to engage a seat 13 formed at the lower end' of a hollow nut 14 in screw-threaded and therefore detachable connection with the extension 4. The upper surface of --the nut 14 may be fashioned with a cross slot by means of which it may be turned upon insertion of a screw driver in a manner old and well known in many arts.

The casing 15 is an integral structure and according to my design, it is to be detachably connected with the faucet casing 1 and will carr ailof the primary valve parts so that all ..iay be simultaneously removed by merely effecting a separation of the connection between the faucet casing 1 and thel easing 15. Figure VH shows the faucet casing with the' entire unitary valve unit removed preparatory to replacement or repair and showing the emergency valve 1n its closing position which it will have automatically assumed upon the withdrawal of the casing and parts carried thereby. The casing 15 is fashioned exteriorly with a hexagonal 16 to facilitate release of its threads 17 which are adapted to cooperate with the threads 3 in the faucet easing. Below the threads 17 the casing 15 is fashioned with diametrically opposite openings 18 which are adapted to be opposite the en trance to the spout 2 when the casing is connected with the faucet casing. The lower end of the casing 15 is fashioned exteriorly, according to the preferred form, with an annular valve seat 19. Interiorly, im-

mediately above the openings 18 the casing 15 is fashioned with coarse thread grooves 20 and higher up with finer thread grooves 21 of larger diameter than the thread grooves 20 as will be. observed in Figure I. The top of the casing 15 has its opening enx larged at 22 and is there fashioned with apair of diametrically opposite lugs 23 the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

Adapted for assembly in the casing 15 is a mainly round valve operating stem 24 having near the middle a hexagonal section 25 and below the latter a slightly larger round section 26, and in turn below that threads 27 adapted to fit the thread grooves 20. Below the threads 27 the stem 24 is fashioned with four circumferential equi-spaced longitudinally recesses 28 purposed to enlarge the water passage to the openings 18 and the spout 2. Below the recesses 28 the stem 24 is threaded at 29, such threaded portion being of somewhat smaller diameter to form a shoulder 30, while the lower extremity 31 of the stem 24 is of a still smaller diameter and is adapted to project through the nut 14 and adapted further to project into the bore 11 of the valve 10. As will be readily under- Stood, the projection of the extremity 31 into the bore 11 will act to limit the upward movement of the valve 10 to prevent its engagement with the seat 13 during the ordi nary use of the faucet valve. which embodies the usual construction of a gasket 32 of some yielding composition and which surrounds the threaded portion 29 of the stem so as to abut the shoulder 30. A flanged.

nut 33 partially encloses the gasket 32 and together with a lock nut 34 serves to hold the gasket 32 against the shoulder 30 and to support it when it is drawn upwardly toits closing position Aagainst the seat 19. It is remove to be noticed that the closing movementv of the valve is in the same direction as the water flow.

Owing to the bore of the casing 15 being somewhat larger opposite its threads 21' than just below Where the thread grooves 20 commence, space is provided between the casing 15 and t e section 26 of the stem for the reception of packing 35 covered by a washer 36 and compressed by anut 37. This packing furnishes a protection against moisture of the spring take-up mechanism to be'next described. Fitted upon the hexagonal section 25 'of the stem so as to be incapable of turning movement relatively to the stem is a disk 38 provided with an upwardly projecting annular flange 39 of less diameter than the lower rim of the disk. The flange 39 is provided at one place with a slot 40 for the accommodation of an in- -wardly bent lower extremity 41 of a coiled spring 42 which encloses the flange 39 and rests upon the disk 38. The upper extremity of the spring 42 is similarly bent inwardly at 43 to occupy either one of a pair of diametrically opposite slots 44 formed in the depending flange 45 of an adjusting collar shown in detail in Figures IX and X, where it will be seen to be additionally formed intermediately of its ends with an annular flange 46 fashioned on its under side as a circular ratchet having teeth 47. The upper end of the collar is formed as an exteriorly squared boss 48. As will be evident upon inspection of Figure I the depending flange 45 is enveloped by the upper end of the spring. The application ot a suitable wrench to the boss 48 will permit effecting a turning movement acting to twist the spring 42, the teeth 47 of the ratchet in the mean time riding idly overvthe lugs 23 which serve the function of fixed pawls by successively slipping behind the shoulders in the teeth 47. A cap 49, through which thc stem 24 likewise projects, is in screwtlireaded engagement with the upper edge of the casing 15 and serves to prevent thc upward movement of the adjusting collar and thereby hold the parts in adjusted position. means of the mechanism just described, when the cap 49 is out of the way, the tension of the spring 42 may be increased with a step by step adjustment thereby maintaining or if desired increasing the tortional force constantly applied to the stem 24 in a direction tending to move it upwardly so as to maintain the gasket against the seat 19.

T he upper end of the stem 24 is formed with circumferentially arranged gashes 50 upon which a handle 51 is mounted and fas tened by means of a set screw 52. Our handle is believed to presenta new and ornamental design including a plurality, in this instance for, equi-spaced cylindrical extremities 53 connected by an umbrella shaped web'54 as is clearly illustrated in Figure I and II. The central top portion of the han dle is provided with an annular recess 55 f in which is snugly fitted a collar 56 with its upper end formed as an angular fl'ange 57 against which the top surface of an index 58 Will seat to be yieldingly held thereagainst by interposed packing 59. We consider this an improved manner of detachably carryin a handle index now often of porcelain an therefore occasionally broken.

In operation, a turning of the handle to the left from the position shown in Figure I will act t0 move the stem 24 downwardly to force the gasket 32 against the water pressure from its seat 19 or to its open posi tion shown in Figure XI, thereby permitting the water to flow past the section 28 of the stem through the openings 18 and out through the spout 2. It is to be noticed also in Fig-l ure XI that when the stem 24 has been so moved downwardly its lower extremity by its engagement With the emergency valve 10 at the bottom vof the bore 11 will hold the emergencyvalve in its open position out of contact with the seat 13. When, on the other hand, the entire valve casing structure is withdrawn from the faucet 1 as shown in Figure VII the valve 10 is immediately moved upwardly by the Water pressure to its closing position which it is shown to occupy in Figure VII.

The modification shown in Figures XII and XIII pertaining to a structure differing only in that the opening and closing movements of the main valve are reversed, the closing movement being here against the water pressure. A casing 60 has an interior seat 61 and in threaded connection with it one part of a stem 62 provided at its lower end with a tapped opening 63 in which is removably fitted the threaded extremity 64 of a complementary stem part including a flange 65 for holding in place a gasket 66 adapted to be brought into engagement with the seat 61. The lower extremity 67 of the lower stem part is similarly adapted to enter the bore 11 of the emergency valve. The alternative position of this modified construction is shown in Figure XIII.

Ne claim 1. The combination of a casing provided with a valve seat, a valve stem in screwthreaded engagement with said casing and carrying a valve, a spring adapted to exert a torsional force on said stem and means located interioi'ly of said casing for winding said spring.

2. In a faucet, the combination of a casing with a valve seat, a rotatable valve stem connected with said casing and carrying a valve adapted to engage said seat, a spring for exerting a turning force on said stem and tending to close the valve, and mechanism including a part connected with said-2. spring and adjustably connected with said casing for adjusting the tension of the spi-ing. i

In a faucet, the combination of a casing fashioned near its top with a lug and also fashioned with a valve seat, a valve stem in screw-threaded connection with said casing and carr 'ing a valve adapted to engage said seat, sai stem being fashioned with an anygular section, a disk fitted to said angular rotatably connected with said casing and "i3- carrying a valve adapted to engage said seat, said stem being fashioned with an angular section, a coiled spring surrounding said :tem, and a pair of parts, one fitted to said angular section and the other loose upon said stem, said parts being connected with opposite ends of said spring, said casing and one of said parts being provided with engageable projections adapted to maintain a tension in said spring.

5. In a faucet, the combination of a casing, a valve stem rotatably connected with the casing and a spring connected with the stem and having a circularly adjustable connection with the casing.

6. In a faucet, the combination of a casing, a valve stem rotatably connected with said casing and mechanism including a coil spring, said mechanism encircling and connected with said stem and having a turnably adjustable connection with the casing.

7 In a faucet, the combination cfa casing having lugs, a rotatable valve operating member, a collar loosely mounted on said member and having ratchet teeth adapted to cooperate with said lugs, means including a spring connecting the member and the collar and a cap for holding the parts in operative position.

8. In a faucet construction, the combination of a casing provided with a valve seat. a valve stem rotatably connected with said casing and carrying a valve adapted to cooperate with said seat, and' a coil spring encircling and connected with said stein. said spring furthermore having a circularly adjustable connection with said casing.

9..In a faucet construction, the combination of a faucet casing, a valve casing adapted for insertion into and attachment to said faucet casing, said valve casing being provided with a valve seat, a valve stem roi atably connected with said casing and carrying a valve adapted to cooperate with said seat, a coil spring encircling and connected with 4. Lemme said stem and having a circuiariy adjustable casing and stem are detached from said connection with said casing, said faucet faucet casing. casing being fashioned with a valve seat, and Signed by us, this 16th day of December, l0 a Huid pressure-operated valve arranged in 1922. the normal operation of the valve to be held off of said last mentioned seat by said stem HERMAN H. MEYER. and to be seated thereagainst when the valve EDWARD C. REEHORST. 

